Fire-escape



(No Model.)

G. W. OLMSTED.

FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 450,796. Patented Apr. 21, 1891.

lUir STATES PATENT Orricn.

GEORGE XVELOH OLMSTED, OF DAGUSCAHONDA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,796, dated April21, 1891. Application filed August 7,1890. Serial No. 361,282. (Nomodel.)

To all wi'tmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE XVELOH OLM- STED, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Daguscahonda, in the county of Elk and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Fire-Escape, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention has relation to fire-escapes; and the objects in view areto provide a cheap and simple device adapted to be carried in the pocketor grip-sack, or located in rooms of a building and to be used upon arope connected to the bed-post, window-sill, or other fixed object,whereby the occupant may safely lower himself to the ground in the eventof fire.

\Vith the above objects in view the invention consists in certainfeatures of construction hereinafter specified, and particularly pointedout in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of a fire-escapeconstructed in accordance with my invention, the same being connectedwith an escape-rope. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken to one side ofthe rope.

Like numerals indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In constructing my device I form a horizontal or base bar 1, from whichthere rises at one side of the center thereof a vertical standard 2, tothe upper end of which is secured or integrally formed a horizontal arm3, which extends over and parallel with the longer portion of thebase-bar. The base being thus divided, constitutes at opposite side ofthe standard hand-holds. The arm 3 is provided with a pair of transverseguide-pins el, and is preferably rounded at the point between the pins.The base-bar 1 below the point between the pins is provided with ashallow curved recess 5, and opposite the base of the standard isprovided with an opening .in which is swiveled a pair of bearing-ears 6,having pivoted therein one end of a brakelever 7, the inner face ofwhich, opposite the shallow curved recess of the base-bar, is like-'WlSG provided with a shallow curved recess 9. The opposite ends of thebase-bar have openings 10, and in each is loosely suspended a loop 11,the two connected by a sling 12, formed of rope or a leather strap, asmay be desired.

13 designates the escape-rope usually found in all rooms of hotels, orthe same may be carried with the herein-described device, as found mostconvenient.

In practice one end of the rope is fastened to the window-sill orbed-post or to a heavy object and the other end passes through thewindow and dropped to the ground, after which the rope is coiled oncearound the arm 3 between the guide-pins, and is inclosed 0r clamped atopposite sides by the base-barand the brake-lever opposite their pointsof recess. The person then gets into the sling, at the same timegripping the end of the brakelever and the base-bar with one hand, andthe base-bar alone at the opposite side of the standard, and tightlyclamping the rope. After having been firmly seated, by slightly relaxingthe grip upon the brake-lever and thus releasing the rope, the personmay descend, the rapidity of the descent being governed by the strengthof the grip or pressure of the brake-lever upon the rope. Whiledescending the person may employ his feetto prevent contact with thewall of the build ing or any projecting objects, such as cornices,window-sills, die. It will be obvious that the same rope may be utilizedfor the descent of any number of persons, and that where but one escapedevice is employed a person after descending may tie the same to therope and a person in the building may draw up the device, disconnect thesame, drop the rope, and then lower himself, the operation beingrepeated as often as necessary.

By reason of the fact that the sling is connected to opposite ends ofthe horizontal base the weight is disposed directly in a vertical lineand in line with the rope 13, so that no kinking or binding of the ropecan take place at any point except around the arm 3 and between theclamping-lever and base 1.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The herein-describedfireescape, the same consisting of a horizontal base-bar havingastandard rising vertically therefrom and provided with an arm extendingfrom the upper end of the standard parallel to the basebar, which latterconstitutes opposite hand holes, a sling supported by the base-bar, anda brake-lever pivoted to the side of the basebase-bar and lever atpoints below the arm being provided with shallow curved recesses, and anescape-rope coiled about the arm between the pins and passing betweenthe lever and base-bar, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEO. WELOH OLMSTED. Witnesses:

CLYDE KIME, WALTER E. HORTON.

